Essendon veteran Michael Hurley will full an inspirational comeback from a life-threatening injury with one last AFL game this weekend earlier than he heads into retirement.
Hurley told his teammates on Thursday morning he would retire after the season, with the membership rapidly saying he’d be named to face Richmond on Saturday night time for a farewell game.
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It’s a exceptional comeback from Hurley, who regarded unlikely to ever run once more after struggling a hip an infection earlier than the 2021 marketing campaign, solely to defy the chances and return to VFL motion this July.
And the 193-game, two-time All-Australian will take it a step additional on Saturday, with Bomber followers getting the possibility to thank the previous No.5 draft decide for his service.
Hurley, 32, stated the problem of returning to the top-level had proved to himself it was time to retire.
“It was about the middle part of the year where I got close and in recent weeks, running out there and getting a kick again was just fantastic,” he stated.
“Physically and mentally, I am feeling up for the challenge, but such a big operation and a big couple of years, and the uncertainty around whether physically I could still keep up with the rigours of AFL footy, it really set in that it was probably time to hang the boots up.”
Hurley impressed at each ends of the bottom however significantly in defence the place he’s twice been named the All-Australian centre half-back.
He was one of many many Bombers who missed the 2016 season serving a ban from the membership’s dietary supplements saga.
“I’ve been here since 2008 and while I probably haven’t experienced a lot of on-field success, and not everyone in AFL can have that, a different success to me is meeting special people,” Hurley stated.
“The most important people at the club to me is my teammates … you don’t fully understand how lucky you are in this job.”
Essendon soccer boss Josh Mahoney referred to as Hurley the “ultimate clubman”.
“Quite remarkably in the weeks following his hip injury, at times it did not look like Michael would be able to run again, let alone train or play VFL so we’re delighted he’s able to line up with his teammates on Saturday,” he stated.
– with AAP
